Extension device foe flexible beacelets



Jan. 3, 1928. l 654 73 E. L. JOHNSON ET A1. 3

EXTENSION DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE BRACELETS Fil'ed sept. 29. 192s Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED srATEs EMIL L. JOHNSON AND OLOIE` LUNDSTEN, OF ATTLEBORO, 'MASSACHUSETT EXTENSION DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE BRACELETS.

Application filed September 29, 1926. Serial No. 138,409.

This invention relates to an extension device for fieXible bracelets, more particularly watch bracelets for holding awrist watch on the arm of the wearer and is an improve- '5 ment in the construction illustrated in our copending patent application Ser. No. 131,- 900; and the object of this invention is to provide means at each end of a device formed of plurality of foldable sections for releasably holding the sections in closed or folded position.

A furtherob] ect ofthe invention is to provide a means at an end of one of a plurality of sections which may be snapped into and locked beneath a cooperating overhangingportion of another section and which may be withdrawn from locked position by a swinging of the sections one relative to the other.

Astill further object of this invention is to provide fingers on one `of the end sections forfrictionally engaging a pivot pin con-` necting the other end section `and the intermediate section to further assist in holding the sections in closed or folded position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully. described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure lis a side elevation illustrating the improved device in its relationtoa wrist watch and bracelet.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the underA side of the section of the device. f Y

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the intermediate section.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the gripper member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bottom section of the device.

Figure 6 is a central sectional side view of the device. Y

Figure 7 `is a sectional view on substantially line 7-7 of Figure 6. Y

Figure 8 is a central sectional side view showing the device as partially open or unfolded.

It is found in the use of extension devices for flexible bracelets of the type more especially adapted for use in wrist watches, desirable to provide different sections which are folded one upon the other to snugly hold the watch on* the wrist of the wearer' and permit the bracelet to be extended for passing the bracelet and watch over the hand of the wearer, and that under certain unusual strains the sections are apt to separate or become partially unlocked or unfolded, and in order to avoid such objectionable detachment of the parts, we have provided releasaole locking means at each end of the device vfor positively securing the sections against unfolding, and yet which may be readily released to permit the sections to be unfolded to an end to end position to temporarily lengthen the bracelet; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention showing one construction of extension member by which these advatageous results may be accomplished With reference to the drawings, 10 designates a wrist watch which is provided with hails 12'to which portions of a flexible bracelet 13, of leather, mesh fabric or any other suitable material are connected, and the opposite ends of the bracelet are connected to an extension device 14 which is adapted to be .the parts and which may be withdrawn from beneath the end wall 23 by swinging of the end section 16 on the pivot 18 which connects it to the intermediate section 17 by which it will be seen that the end section 16 may be readily removed from its locked position beneath the overhanging portion 23 or which may be positioned between this overhanging portion by a reverse operation to securely hold the section in folded or closed position.

The opposite ends of the walls 22 are formed by undercutting portions thereof to snap beneath the pivot pin 18 and the resiliency of these portions is increased by cutting away portions of the side walls to form slots 26 and leave fingers 25 of great resiliency to snap beneath the pivot pins 18 comiecting the intermediate section 17 and the top section 15 to securely hold the free end of the section 16 in folded or closed l01 to Tengage `the pivot; pin' 18.

v A gripper 28 ,having rv trunnions i29 extending therefroniispivotedin thefopening 3() inthe endvsectioni 16t andk between the; gripspingedgenl andthe section 16 a -ilexible bracelet part 13 :may be releasably held. detent g32 ,is V4provided .on thegripper toengag ,'ean opening Bzin the :intermediate-secion to assist in retaining theparts ni closed positionas :is more fully desccibed incur eopendin'g ,application above .refer-red to. i Itavill be,.understood-thatin actual practice ythe Asections -Wll be slightly lcurved as villustrated in Figure `1te conform to-the Wrist; of the wearer `but-@as the curvature of the sectionsyperfonm no functional result in this construction, "We .have v`illustrated the vksections ,as formed-of straight lines rather .than onthe are .oi'aclrcle. .It will be seen` from the foregoing that*.vethavegprovided a ,construction by Which..fa pluralityof secf tions .Whiebniay be unfolded to-'temporarily :lengthen Y the bracelet .aref positivelyl triction- `all'yzheld in closed position by ,which ,accidental disengagement of the same is avoided.

The foregoing description is directed vrsolely towards the construction illustrated,

but We desire ait tosfbe Lunderstood that .We reserve` the privilege. of resorting :to vall the ,mechanicalfchanges\ to .which the device is `suseeptible,z the `invention being defined land L limited ,onlyiby the A.terms of the appended claims.

JiWeclaim: Y f

1.. `In an lextension :device for flexible bracelets, apair of end ,sections having .side

vWalls, ,an ,intermediate .section pivoted ,at its oppositeends tothe end sections,an inwardly inclined .end Wall .on .one of vsaid en d sections, a. caln sliapedportion .on the side walls ojf the :other end section extending beneath the said inclined end Wall to lock the vfend. sectionstogether,- said cani Shaped lportion being Withdrawn fromqbeneath said end Wall upon, swingn'rl-er of the same on its ate sec- ,me diate seetion, pivot pins connecting the endsfo'f the intermediate section tothe. end

sectionsfifngers onstheefreeiend ,of one ofV tion ',-nnea-ns -carrziedffby :one .of thesections tier spacing the intermediate section fromthe side .walls ,of one of.y the.ioliannelsectionsi to wvhich- [it is i attached .an d. fingers on the i free end, or" the; :other foi said channel sections. for extendingfin the vspace between the anteryanediate section and channel seotionnnd-engaging the pivotpinconnecting thesesecrions v 4l. ln an extension 'device ,forolexble bracelets, a pair of' channel shaped-sections :an rin-tenmediate `section, pivotpins connecting: thefopposite ends ofthe :intermediate sect1' onf to the side walls, of; `the channel see, 5 tions, and` resilient; fngers' dior-med from the .side walls .ot .one ,of said i channel sections T h av in over-,han gin g portions i for ireleasably engaging the ip-ivot, ,pin con necting the intermediatesection Aand they other V.channel -seetion. Y Y V 5, ihn extension devicey for -.a `fiexible bracelet comprising fa pair ot-rv end sections, anA Eintenmediate fsection,.pivot `pins ,connect- .ing.thesopposite ends oiesaid intenmediate sectioni to,A said end f sections, inwandly: :inelinedend .Avail on loney ofthe end fsections, ea-niportions .on the end -of :the otheraend section to loe snapped beneathlsaidfend.wall and be Avitlidrawnbv the-swinging of the end :sectioni .on v itspivotal. comiec'tionslto the `intenmediate (section, and `lingers on the .said other end sectionhaving ends onmed to ,asnap beneath A, the ipivot pin `connectizl'ig the intermediate-.andthe; iirstsaid endl sections.

ears on the intermediate section ,and pivotr y.pins for connectingtheopposite ,endssfo'f the intermediate section to the sidewalls oftthe channel f sections, nndercut, portions Eat the ends of thev side walls 'of one ofsaid chan- .nel sect-.ions for releasably and frctionally engaging one of the ,pivot5pins whichon- ,nects the intermediate section andnne of said, end sections. i

-JIn testimonywhereof we ailxnours'igna- .tures. 'p y EMILL. JOHNSON. GLDF 

